Difference between Garmin mount and non Garmin

Bwgan

Just wondered what's the difference?
There have been a few Garmin out in front mounts for sale recently and some of the guys have been saying comment like "If it's definitely a Garmin one I'll take it". What's the difference in the Garmin one and say the SRAM one I have?
Thanks

imposter2.0

The difference is mainly in the gullibility of the buyers, I would think. Some people would rather spend £25 on a mount which says 'Garmin', as opposed to less than a tenner for something unbranded which does exactly the same job.

desweller

I guess it depends how securely it holds the unit.

I've tried budget bar mounts for my eTrex and it was not a successful move...good thing the eTrex is so robust.

RDW

I'd be dubious about a metal mount, like the K-edge - looks very well made, but some users have reported it can chew up the plastic on the Garmin.

mugensi

I have one of the SRAM mounts (bought on ebay) and it has been faultless. Holds the unit nicely and looks good too, I couldnt justify the price of a Garmin mount, besides the SRAM mount looks much nicer.

sniper68

I paid £8 for a copy off ebay and it holds my edge 200 with no problems.

Dorset_Boy

I had a SRAM mount and the thread stripped really easily - replaced it with the Garmin version which is much more sturdy and have one on both road bikes.

Philly8mt

Got two K-Edge mounts (Garmin 200 & Touring) and both are spot on.
Neither has caused any issue with "chewing" either!?!?

I sometimes wonder what the hell people do with their kit!!

thegreatdivide

Garmin out front mount - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, plastic, secure but a bit chunky, it can leave the Garmin sitting a wee bit squint.
Bar Fly - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, plastic, shiny finish, secure, less chunky.
SRAM - Garmin sits above the stem, big 'SRAM' logo looks a bit sh*t if you're running Campagnolo or Shimano, the chunkiest of them all.
K-Edge - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, CNC alloy so it looks bling, V1 models don't have a plastic insert to secure Garmin, later versions do, it looks bling, lifetime warranty, rock solid, vibration free (just like their GoPro mounts) looks bling.
Superstar Components job - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, metal, not sure if it's been forged or if it's CNC, it looks a bit cheap but does the job.

I've got four of the above. The SRAM however was a non starter because IMO not having it flush with the stem is wrong and I don't run SRAM. The K-Edge is a V1 model and it's been on my bike for several years now. In the countless number of times that my Edge 800 has been removed and re fitted it has NEVER been chewed up, worn away or generally been mucked up by the mount. The Bar Fly 3.0 is not bad and the fact that I can mount my EPS control unit underneath is a win. The Superstar does the job but the bolts are cheap, it's a wee bit heavy and it's no looker. The Garmin is also not bad but out of all of them it's the one that has me straightening the unit - it doesn't give a firm 'click' like the others.

So basically buy any of them apart from the SRAM :-D

Philly8mt

thegreatdivide wrote:

Garmin out front mount - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, plastic, secure but a bit chunky, it can leave the Garmin sitting a wee bit squint.
Bar Fly - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, plastic, shiny finish, secure, less chunky.
SRAM - Garmin sits above the stem, big 'SRAM' logo looks a bit sh*t if you're running Campagnolo or Shimano, the chunkiest of them all.
K-Edge - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, CNC alloy so it looks bling, V1 models don't have a plastic insert to secure Garmin, later versions do, it looks bling, lifetime warranty, rock solid, vibration free (just like their GoPro mounts) looks bling.
Superstar Components job - sits the Garmin flush with the stem, metal, not sure if it's been forged or if it's CNC, it looks a bit cheap but does the job.

I've got four of the above. The SRAM however was a non starter because IMO not having it flush with the stem is wrong and I don't run SRAM. The K-Edge is a V1 model and it's been on my bike for several years now. In the countless number of times that my Edge 800 has been removed and re fitted it has NEVER been chewed up, worn away or generally been mucked up by the mount. The Bar Fly 3.0 is not bad and the fact that I can mount my EPS control unit underneath is a win. The Superstar does the job but the bolts are cheap, it's a wee bit heavy and it's no looker. The Garmin is also not bad but out of all of them it's the one that has me straightening the unit - it doesn't give a firm 'click' like the others.

So basically buy any of them apart from the SRAM :-D

K-Edge ---- He's right

cougie

I bought a cheap mount off Amazon for my 500 - about a tenner I think ? Works fine and the garmin is only light. If it was one of the bigger units - I'd go an alloy one.

The Mechanic

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

lostboysaint

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

Because, as my Barfly does, the fitting drops down so that the Garmin, when mounted is essentially flush along the top (screen) surface with the top of the stem. Cleaner lines.

lostboysaint

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

Because, as my Barfly does, the fitting drops down so that the Garmin, when mounted is essentially flush along the top (screen) surface with the top of the stem. Cleaner lines.

bernithebiker

lostboysaint wrote:

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

Because, as my Barfly does, the fitting drops down so that the Garmin, when mounted is essentially flush along the top (screen) surface with the top of the stem. Cleaner lines.

More aero too!

thegreatdivide

bernithebiker wrote:

lostboysaint wrote:

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

Because, as my Barfly does, the fitting drops down so that the Garmin, when mounted is essentially flush along the top (screen) surface with the top of the stem. Cleaner lines.

More aero too!

0.73 watts saved over 50km at 40kmph.

lostboysaint

Every little helps

Bar Shaker

I have a small irk with the one that comes with the 1000 in that it isn't flush with the stem. My Garmin 800 mount was, but the 1000 doesn't fit that.

I am against using these mounts to hold the Di2 box as it would make it a faff to check the battery but as I now use an EWW01 to relay battery level info, I may see if K Edge do one that holds both. Does anyone know if they do?

thegreatdivide

Bar Shaker wrote:

I have a small irk with the one that comes with the 1000 in that it isn't flush with the stem. My Garmin 800 mount was, but the 1000 doesn't fit that.

I am against using these mounts to hold the Di2 box as it would make it a faff to check the battery but as I now use an EWW01 to relay battery level info, I may see if K Edge do one that holds both. Does anyone know if they do?

Not that I know of. The new Barfly has a recess under the Garmin so you can fit an EPS/Di2 box securely and off the stem. It works really well IMO. Here it is on my C59:

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12962249

Saying that, if K-Edge ever brought one out I might consider upgrading...

Bar Shaker

Yeah that does look good Dave, I'll see if they do a 1000 length one. It's good that the LED display is still visible.

The bike looks the absolute nuts!!

kingstonian

RDW wrote:

I'd be dubious about a metal mount, like the K-edge - looks very well made, but some users have reported it can chew up the plastic on the Garmin.

I have no idea how it can "chew up" the plastic on the Garmin. The Garmin slots into a plastic socket contained within the metal mount, so it isn't metal-on-metal anyway.

johnmiosh

Kingstonian wrote:

RDW wrote:

I'd be dubious about a metal mount, like the K-edge - looks very well made, but some users have reported it can chew up the plastic on the Garmin.

I have no idea how it can "chew up" the plastic on the Garmin. The Garmin slots into a plastic socket contained within the metal mount, so it isn't metal-on-metal anyway.

There is a known issue with the 500. The white tabs on the back are prone to failure.

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.ph ... nt-Failure

This happened to me a couple of years ago and the unit was replaced under warranty. It is happening to quite a few (obviously a minority), but I think Garmin are now saying it is not a warranty issue.

The thoughts are not that it is caused by third party mounts, but pressure on the back of the unit; the Garmin out front mounts are thought to be as bad as any other. The biggest culprit is the plastic mount that comes in the box with the unit. If the radius of the stem or bar is slightly smaller than the mount indent, it will put more pressure on the tabs.

The Mechanic

thegreatdivide wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

lostboysaint wrote:

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a SRAM mount for my Edge 800. It is secure and has never let me down. I am not sure what is meant by "Flush with the stem". How can this be with an out front mount.

Because, as my Barfly does, the fitting drops down so that the Garmin, when mounted is essentially flush along the top (screen) surface with the top of the stem. Cleaner lines.

More aero too!

0.73 watts saved over 50km at 40kmph.

You guys need to get out more

RDW

The K-Edge thing isn't personal experience (I use the Garmin mount) and to be fair most reviews don't mention this as an issue, but from some of the lower rated Wiggle reviews of what I guess is the 'V1' mentioned above:

"Sound product, but soon realised sharp metal edges on K-Edge clip shaved groves into the plastic on the bottom of the Garmin unit. Now very uneasy about wear rate of the main body of the unit from attaching and removing it from K-Edge mount, for charging and unloads. With hindsight, I would chose the Garmin plastic mount instead."

"This looks amazing and sits well on the bars, however the bracket that the 810 sits on is made from metal and the round locking nut is hard plastic and after continuous use the plastic on the back of the 810 becomes worn and loose due to metal lugs wearing Into the plastic."

"This product is very well made and is superb quality but and it's a big but, the product is flawed Basically as the mount is made from aluminium,when you fit your Garmin Edge 800 / 810 etc the metal mount cuts into the plastic back very slightly leaving behind tiny flakes of plastic from your Garmin, which to me for a product costing £34.99"

"My 800 is a good tight fit, so no worries about the unit coming away from the mount. However, like others I've noticed small shavings remaining on the mount when I've removed the 800. I'm concerned this might affect the fit in the original Garmin mount. Only time will tell."

Since the later versions have a plastic insert, I assume this was a recognised problem - worth considering if you buy old stock or an ebay copy.